Airbnb has introduced Airbnb Rooms, a new take on the original Airbnb and one that is said to provide a more authentic way to experience a city.
Every Airbnb Room features a Host Passport, which helps guests get to know their host before booking their stay – hosts will share more details about themselves, like where they went to school, what they do for work, a fun fact about themselves, and much more.
“With Airbnb Rooms, we’re getting back to the idea that started it all – back to our founding ethos of sharing,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. “Airbnb Rooms are often more affordable than hotels, and they’re the most authentic way to experience a city. This is the soul of Airbnb.”
The platform has also created a Rooms category with over one million listings, redesigned filters and added new privacy features, such as whether the bedroom door has a lock or if the host will be in the home during the guest’s stay.
Other new features and upgrades include total price display, transparent checkout instructions, improved maps, redesigned wish lists, more affordable monthly stays, payment instalments, and instant rebooking credit if a host were to cancel within 30 days of arrival.
In addition, Airbnb has created a dedicated all-day support team for priority access.
For hosts, Airbnb has launched improvements such as new pricing tools to help hosts set competitive prices, add weekly and monthly discounts, and compare their listing to similar ones in their area, as well as a yearly view in calendar, the ability to easily enter checkout instructions, read receipts and new quick replies in messaging, and more.
